Legal claims defining the scope of protection. Each claim is shown in both the original legal language and a plain English translation.
1. A computing engine for conducting a survey, the computing engine comprising: at least one processing unit; at least one storage unit connected to said at least one processing unit; at least one public switched telephone network (PSTN) gateway connected to said at least one processing unit; said PSTN gateway configured to connect to a plurality of plain old telephone system (POTS) terminals via the PSTN; and at least one Internet gateway connected to said at least one processing unit; said Internet gateway configured to be connected to a computing client via the Internet, wherein said computing client is associated with an electronic address for identification; said processing unit configured to perform a random connection to at least one of said POTS terminals and to receive said electronic address associated with said computing client, wherein said random connection is performed using a random number generator to automatically generate a phone number; and said processing unit configured to associate said at least one of said POTS terminals with said computing client.
A computer system is designed to conduct surveys by randomly connecting to landline phones (POTS terminals) via a phone network (PSTN). It has a processor, storage, a PSTN gateway to connect to the phone network, and an Internet gateway to connect to computers on the Internet. The system randomly dials a phone number using a random number generator, then asks whoever answers for an electronic address (like an email) associated with a computer client. The system then links the phone number to that electronic address in its storage.
2. The computing engine of claim 1 wherein said electronic address is an email address.
The computer system for conducting surveys, which randomly connects to landline phones (POTS terminals) via a phone network (PSTN), as described in claim 1, specifically collects email addresses as the electronic address associated with a computer client connected to the Internet. The system randomly dials a phone number using a random number generator, then asks whoever answers for their email address. The system then links the phone number to that email address in its storage.
3. The computing engine of claim 1 wherein said processing unit is configured to generate a set of telephone numbers corresponding to at least a portion of said POTS terminals, and said processing unit is configured to randomly select a POTS terminal from said set in order to perform said random connection.
The computer system for conducting surveys, which randomly connects to landline phones (POTS terminals) via a phone network (PSTN), as described in claim 1, first creates a list of phone numbers that correspond to some or all of the landline phones. Then, instead of generating completely random numbers, it picks a random number from that list to dial. The system randomly dials a phone number from the pre-generated list using a random number generator, then asks whoever answers for an electronic address (like an email) associated with a computer client. The system then links the phone number to that electronic address in its storage.
4. The computing engine of claim 3 wherein processing unit is configured to perform a plurality of random connections to different POTS terminals and to receive a plurality of electronic addresses corresponding to each of said POTS terminals.
The computer system for conducting surveys, which randomly connects to landline phones (POTS terminals) via a phone network (PSTN), and picks from a pre-generated list of phone numbers as described in claim 3, repeats the random calling process multiple times. Each time it calls a different landline phone, it asks for and receives a different electronic address (like an email). The system then links each phone number to its corresponding electronic address in its storage.
5. The computing engine of claim 4 wherein a number of said plurality of random connections corresponds to a sample size determined according to a survey design.
The computer system for conducting surveys, which randomly connects to landline phones (POTS terminals) via a phone network (PSTN), and picks from a pre-generated list of phone numbers, and repeats the random calling process multiple times as described in claim 4, determines how many calls to make based on a survey design. The number of random connections made is equal to the sample size specified in the survey design.
6. The computing engine of claim 1 where said processing unit is further configured to validate said electronic address.
The computer system for conducting surveys, which randomly connects to landline phones (POTS terminals) via a phone network (PSTN), as described in claim 1, also checks if the electronic address (like an email) it receives is valid. It has a processor, storage, a PSTN gateway to connect to the phone network, and an Internet gateway to connect to computers on the Internet. The system randomly dials a phone number using a random number generator, then asks whoever answers for an electronic address associated with a computer client, and validates this address. The system then links the phone number to that electronic address in its storage.
7. The computing engine of claim 6 wherein said validation is implicit.
The computer system for conducting surveys, which randomly connects to landline phones (POTS terminals) via a phone network (PSTN), and validates the received electronic address as described in claim 6, performs an *implicit* validation. This means it validates the address without directly asking the user to confirm it.
8. The computing engine of claim 6 wherein said validation is explicit whereby said processing unit addresses a query to said electronic address; said query including a request for a response having a predefined expected contents.
The computer system for conducting surveys, which randomly connects to landline phones (POTS terminals) via a phone network (PSTN), and validates the received electronic address as described in claim 6, performs an *explicit* validation. This means the system sends a message to the provided electronic address (like an email) asking for a specific response. The system validates the address if the correct response is received.
9. The computing engine of claim 8 wherein said predefined expected contents corresponds to a password that was provided as part of completing said random connection.
The computer system for conducting surveys, which performs explicit validation of the electronic address by sending a query to the address and awaiting a response, as described in claim 8, expects a specific password as the response. This password was given to the user during the initial phone call.
10. The computing engine of claim 1 wherein said processing unit is configured to generate a voice message at said at least one of said POTS terminals, said voice message requesting provision of said electronic address.
The computer system for conducting surveys, which randomly connects to landline phones (POTS terminals) via a phone network (PSTN), as described in claim 1, plays a voice message to the person who answers the phone. This voice message asks them to provide their electronic address (like an email). The system then links the phone number to that electronic address in its storage.
11. A computing engine for conducting surveys, the computing engine comprising: at least one processing unit; at least one storage unit connected to said at least one processing unit; at least one first-type communication gateway connected to said at least one processing unit; said first-type communication gateway configured to connect to a plurality of first-type communication terminals via a first network; and at least one second-type communication gateway connected to said at least one processing unit; said second-type communication gateway configured to connect to a second-type communication terminal via a second network, wherein said second-type communication terminal is associated with an address for identification; said processing unit configured to perform a random connection to at least one of said first-type communication terminals and to receive said address associated with said second-type communication terminal, wherein said random connection is performed using a random number generator to automatically generate a phone number; and said processing unit is configured to associate said at least one of said first-type communication terminals with said second-type communication terminal.
A computer system is designed to conduct surveys by randomly connecting to one type of communication terminal (first-type) via a communication network (first network) and associating it with another type of communication terminal (second-type) connected via a different network (second network). It has a processor, storage, a first-type communication gateway and second-type communication gateway. The system randomly connects to a terminal using a random number generator, then retrieves an address for identification of the second-type communication terminal. The system then links the first terminal to that address in its storage.
12. A computerized method for randomized compilation of electronic addresses for conducting surveys, the method comprising: via at least one processing unit, performing a random selection of one of a plurality of plain old telephone system (POTS) terminal addresses associated with a public switched telephone network (PSTN), wherein performing said random selection comprises using a random number generator to automatically generate a phone number; via said at least one processing unit, controlling a PSTN gateway interconnecting said processing unit and said PSTN to establish a connection with said one of said POTS terminal addresses; via said at least one processing unit, sending an electronic message representing a request to provide an electronic address associated with at least one of a plurality of computing clients that are connected to a data network, wherein said electronic address is for identification of said at least one of a plurality of computing clients; via said at least one processing unit, receiving said electronic address associated with said at least one of a plurality of computing clients that are connected to the data network; via said at least one processing unit, storing said electronic address associated with said at least one of a plurality of computing clients in a storage device.
A computerized method is used for collecting electronic addresses for surveys. The method involves randomly selecting a landline phone number (POTS terminal) associated with the public phone network (PSTN) using a random number generator. Then, the system calls that phone number. The system plays a message requesting the person who answers to provide an electronic address (like an email) of a computer user connected to the Internet. The system then stores that electronic address.
13. The method of claim 12 wherein said electronic address is an email address.
The method for collecting electronic addresses for surveys, which randomly connects to landline phones (POTS terminals) via a phone network (PSTN), as described in claim 12, specifically collects email addresses.
14. The method of claim 12 wherein said processing unit is configured to generate a set of telephone numbers corresponding to at least a portion of said POTS terminals, and said processing unit is configured to randomly select a POTS terminal from said set in order to perform said random connection.
The method for collecting electronic addresses for surveys, which randomly connects to landline phones (POTS terminals) via a phone network (PSTN), as described in claim 12, first creates a list of phone numbers that correspond to some or all of the landline phones. Then, instead of generating completely random numbers, it picks a random number from that list to dial.
15. The method of claim 12 comprising repeating said steps to receive a plurality of electronic addresses corresponding to each of said POTS terminals.
The method for collecting electronic addresses for surveys, which randomly connects to landline phones (POTS terminals) via a phone network (PSTN), as described in claim 12, repeats the steps of randomly selecting a phone number, calling that number, and asking for an electronic address multiple times.
16. The method of claim 15 wherein a number of said plurality of random connections corresponds to a sample size determined according to a survey design.
The method for collecting electronic addresses for surveys, which repeats the steps of randomly selecting a phone number, calling that number, and asking for an electronic address multiple times as described in claim 15, determines how many calls to make based on a survey design. The number of random connections made is equal to the sample size specified in the survey design.
17. The method of claim 12 where said processing unit is further configured to validate said electronic address.
The method for collecting electronic addresses for surveys, which randomly connects to landline phones (POTS terminals) via a phone network (PSTN), as described in claim 12, also checks if the electronic address (like an email) it receives is valid.
18. The method of claim 17 wherein said validation is implicit.
The method for collecting electronic addresses for surveys, which randomly connects to landline phones (POTS terminals) via a phone network (PSTN), and validates the received electronic address as described in claim 17, performs an *implicit* validation. This means it validates the address without directly asking the user to confirm it.
19. The method of claim 17 wherein said validation is explicit whereby said processing unit addresses a query to said electronic address; said query including a request for a response having a predefined expected contents.
The method for collecting electronic addresses for surveys, which randomly connects to landline phones (POTS terminals) via a phone network (PSTN), and validates the received electronic address as described in claim 17, performs an *explicit* validation. This means the system sends a message to the provided electronic address (like an email) asking for a specific response. The system validates the address if the correct response is received.
20. The method of claim 19 wherein said predefined expected contents corresponds to a password that was provided as part of completing said random connection.
The method for collecting electronic addresses for surveys, which performs explicit validation of the electronic address by sending a query to the address and awaiting a response, as described in claim 19, expects a specific password as the response. This password was given to the user during the initial phone call.
21. The method of claim 12 wherein said processing unit is configured to generate a voice message at said at least one of said POTS terminals, said voice message requesting provision of said electronic address.
The method for collecting electronic addresses for surveys, which randomly connects to landline phones (POTS terminals) via a phone network (PSTN), as described in claim 12, plays a voice message to the person who answers the phone. This voice message asks them to provide their electronic address (like an email).
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September 30, 2014
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